No, I didn't plan for post number ten to coincide with Super XX Man's Vol. X. It's just a cool, random bit of truth. I'm writing this today because I just got off the phone with my good friend, Chad Crouch, the artist behind this iconic painting. Chad is also the owner and brainchild of Hush Records, based out of Portland, OR. He was one of the first people I met when I moved from Austin to Portland on New Year's Day, 2002, and, more importantly, he has been a solid and trusted friend ever since.
Just like many artists have their classic quartet, I had a classic quintet comprised of Ali Wesley on vocals and flute, Michelle Garred on piano and accordion, John Vecchiarelli on drums, Zach Boyle on guitar, and myself on vocals and guitar and ukulele. We didn't quite have the volume of Neil Young's classic Crazy Horse band or the musical dexterity of John Coltrane's classic quartet, but we were good. In fact, I will go on record and say this was the best version of Super XX Man ever. We could play the quiet stuff and we could play the loud stuff (okay, okay, never really that loud). Catch this group at the White Eagle Saloon or the older and better Alberta Street Pub, and you were in for a treat. Did anyone ever get to hear Ali singing “Collecting Rocks” live? It was magical.
Just in case you don't own it, here's “Collecting Rocks” from Vol. X. Download it and enjoy! It was recorded in our NE Portland, OR home on my beloved Tascam 388 and mastered by Dave McNair. This song reached a lot of people, for which I'm very fortunate.